PART 5227 PATENTS, DATA AND COPYRIGHTS

SUBPART 5227.70—INFRINGEMENT CLAIMS, LICENSES, AND ASSIGNMENTS

5227.7013 Recordation.

Originals of licenses, assignments or other documents evidencing a Government interest in patents or applications for patents shall be forwarded to the Chief of Naval Research for transmittal to the Commissioner of Patents and Trademarks.

SUBPART 5227.90—TRADEMARK RIGHTS UNDER GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS

5227.9001 Trademarks.

(a) This language is intended to specifically address claims for trademark infringement and the specified, related legal causes of action arising from use of the specific terms identified as “Designations”, as well as related matters concerning assertion of rights in those Designations.

(b) Contracting officers shall insert the applicable language in the statements of work of new solicitations, contracts and task or delivery orders that are part of acquisition programs (as defined in NMCARS 5207.103(d)(i)) that meet the criteria in paragraph (1) or (2).

(1) Include the following statement of work language for “new” acquisition programs, i.e. acquisition programs for which: (a) nomenclature (e.g., type or Mission Design Series (MDS) designator, approved item name, or approved popular name) has been, or is expected to be, assigned; and, (b) the Government has not yet awarded a contract for full-rate production or equivalent:

“The contractor shall not assert any claim, in any jurisdiction, based on trademark or other name or design-based causes of action that are based on rights the contractor believes it has in the term(s) [contracting officers shall list terms(s) (typically the assigned nomenclature, or portions thereof)] (the “Designation(s)”), against the Government or others authorized by the Government to use the Designation(s) (including the word(s), name, symbol, or design) acting within the scope of such authorization (i.e. claims for trademark infringement, dilution, trade dress infringement, unfair competition, false advertising, palming off, passing off, or counterfeiting). Such authorization shall be implied by the award of a Government contract to any party for the manufacture, production, distribution, use, modification, maintenance, sustainment, or packaging of the products and services identified under this contract, and the scope of such implied authorization is defined as the use of the Designation(s) in performance under such contract by the prime contractor and its subcontractors and suppliers at any tier. In all other cases, the scope of the authorization will be defined by the Government in writing.

The contractor shall notify the contracting officer at least 30 days before asserting rights in, or filing an application to register, any one of the Designation(s) in any jurisdiction within the United States. Any such notification shall be in writing and shall identify the Designation(s) (including the word(s), name, symbol, or design), provide a statement as to its intended use(s) in commerce, and list the particular classes of goods or services in which registration will be sought.”

(2) Include the following statement of work language for “old” acquisition programs, i.e. acquisition programs for which nomenclature (e.g., type or MDS designator, approved item name, or approved popular name) has been assigned and that do not otherwise meet the criteria for “new” acquisition programs above:

“The contractor shall not assert any claim, in any jurisdiction, based on trademark or other name or design-based causes of action that are based on rights the contractor believes it has in the term(s) [contracting officers shall list term(s) (typically the assigned nomenclature, or portions thereof)] (the “Designation(s)”), against the Government or others authorized by the Government to use the Designation(s) (including the word(s), name, symbol, or design) acting within the scope of such authorization (i.e. claims for trademark infringement, dilution, trade dress infringement, unfair competition, false advertising, palming off, passing off, or counterfeiting). Such authorization shall be implied by the award of a Government contract to any party for the manufacture, production, distribution, use, modification, maintenance, sustainment, or packaging of the products and services identified under this contract, and the scope of such implied authorization is defined as the use of the Designation(s) in performance under such contract by the prime contractor and its subcontractors and suppliers at any tier. In all other cases, the scope of the authorization will be defined by the Government in writing.”

(c) Contracting officers shall submit notifications received from contractors, resulting from the requirements of 5227.9001(a), to the DON Trademark and Licensing Program Office via email at Navylicensing.fct@navy.mil.